Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised. This story contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some readers discretion advised.
On October 9, 2002, Aileen Wuornos, one of America’s most infamous female serial killers, faced her final moments on death row at Florida State Prison. But how did she spend the hours leading up to her execution?
in the early hours of october 8th 2002 Aileen Wuornos sat awake on her thin worn out mattress,knowingg these were her finalbranded america’s first female serial killer and nicnamed the damsel of death.
she had been convicted of killing richard mallory
and later admitted to 6 more murders
but unlike most ondeatrow Aileen didn’t fear the end. she welcomed it.
her execution wasn’t a punishment for her at least not after spending a decade on deathrow
it was freedom after a lifetime of pain and violence she saw death as her only escape.
as time continued its march it left behind only one certainty
she was ready for it all to end.
this morning was not different from any other on death row , scrambled eggs ,toast , and milk as usual
Aileen had long made her peace with it . earlier that year she had accused prison staff of contaminating her food with dirt , saliva and urin.
she claimed to have overheard them to push her to take her own life or assault her before the execution.
but with only one day left ,none of it mattered anymore
at noon Aileen was told that two final efforts to halt her execution had failed
one from Tampa attorney, the other from an Ohio advocacy group
both questioning her mental competency wuornos hadn’t fougt the sentence herself in fact she had waved her appeal rights earlier that year .
insisting on speeding up her execution a move that raised doubts her sanity.
only last months Aileen ‘ final appeals attorney attorney raag singhal raised concern about her mental state .
prompting a temporary stay from govenor jeb bush.
but after psychiatrists confirmed she understood her actions the stay was lifted .
she knew exactlywas she was doing said state attorney John Tanner.
it was a hard day ,singhal reflected because no matter what ,she wanted to die.”
for Wuornos the verdict wasn’t defeat,it was the end she’d been waiting for.
at 3:00 p.m Aileen Wuornos sat down with fimmaker nick broomfield for what will be her final interview.
part of his documentary ” Aileen life and death of a serial killer “
in the weeks leading up to her execution Wuornos had spoken to broomfield by being taking away to meet god , jesus, the angels, and whatever lies beyond the the beyond”
referring to the standard uniform for death row inmates.
when asked how life in prison was she replied well, here it’s okay…it’s allright but you know you have your problems , with some staff ( who don’t like you ” oh your are a serial killer!”
when broomfield asked if she had made any friends Wuornos addmitted she mostly kept to herself
but as the conversation shifted her tone darkened Wuornos spoke of being tortured.
she says they had the intercom on in the room, and they kept lying that it wasn’t on and they were using sonic pressure on my head since 1997
and said she had a lot of ( food )trays that were attempted murder and everything
and she had to wash all her food off.and then one day she didn’t wash her food off and she was sick for three weeks,she almost died
in a chilling moment she reaffirmed her readiness for execution delivering a final damning accusation.
“let them know, that i know that the cops knew who i was after richard mallory died i left prints everywhere , and they covered it up and let me kill the rest of those guys to turn me into a serial killer, i know they did!”
her anger boiled over ans she unleashed it on broomfield.
” you sabotaged my ass! society . and the cops ,and the system! a raped women got executed and was used for books , movies and shits !”
with the camera still rolling she spat out her final words on screen.
“thanks a lot society! for railroading my ass!”
just hours later in the solitude of her cell.Wuornos spent the time reflecting on her life and what lay ahead ,little else transpired durings these moments,as a strange calm began to settle over her.
replacing the irratic behavior that had defined her for years…
she had longmaitnained that she killed the men in self- defense while assaulted though later she recanted saying she wanted to make peace with god.
” i.m someone who seriously hates human life and would killed again” she admitted.
after a decade on death row, death had become something she eagerly awaited .however she continued to rail against her treatment in prison , complaining about strip searches tights handcuffs ,door kickng,frequent windows checks,low water pressure.
mildew on her mattress and the officer’s cat callng which she described as pure hatred towards her.
Wuornos even threatened to refuse food and showers when certain officers were on duty .her attorney emphasized that she simply wanted to be treated humanely until the day of her execution in the end .
after her outbursts in the interview Wuornos settled onto her bed and drifted into an early sleep as if surrendering to te inevitable.
there were no last phon calls,no visits from family or friends. she had severed those connections long ago, left utterly alone she faced her final hours incmplete solitud
october 9th ,2002
eileen woke earlier than usual just hours before execution, prison sterling Ivy reported that she aske for a towel and washcloth to freshen up
according to him Wuornos declined the traditional last meal which could be anything under $20 dollar instead chose a simple cup of bblack coffe.
in those final hours she counted down the time in silence and solitude, all alone,lying down , sitting, reading , and relaxing as she awated her faith.
around 9 :30 a.m a crowd of supporters and opponents of death penalty gathered outside the prison, though they were outnumbered by corrections officers.
inside Wuornos was escorted from her cell to the death chamber, with guards ensuring her secure transportonce inside she was strapped to a gurnie with two intravenous lines hooked to her arms
32 witnesses held there breath as the heavy curtains pared to reveal her in the chamber.
said state attorney john tenner who had prosecuded her case
her last psychiatric exam , she expressed relief that florda had ablished the electic chair in a striking final statement Wuornos declared :
“yes .I would just like to say , im sailing with ther rock, and i’ll be back. like independence day with jesus june 6 like the movie . big mother ship and all, I’ll be back ,I’ ll be back “
This bizarre proclamation higlighted her troubled mental state and served as a chilling reminder of her complex psyche
previously she urged the florida supreme court to proceed with her exceution stating i would prefer to cut the chase and get on with it
taxpayers money has been squandered and familie have suffered enough.
then the execution began a guard press the buttons to release the lethal chemicals into her veins ,Wuornos, stared at the ceiling swallowing repeatedly her eyes wathering but showed no emotion
minutes ticked by as a small air conditioner hummedfrom the opposite wall , the silence in the chamber was absolute.
non of the witnesses spoke coughed or even sighed the air
in the room was heavy , thick with heat , her skinn turned pale as the poison did its work
after about 8 minutes the attending physician gave a nod when the warden ask if she had expired. the warden pick up a phone presumably to inform the governor though no one could hear his words as the audio system had been cut off after warden’s final statement.
with the second nod the curton was drawn, Aileen Wuornos was officially pronounced dead at 9 :47 am.
she was 46 years old .
reactions to her death were mixed,some believed her execution was justice served,other saw it as a tragic end of a deeply troubled life shaped by abuse and abandonnent
a life that spiraled into darkness and let to serial killings